Automatic brake release



Dec. 22, 1953 J. FENLEY AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1949 INVENTOR. JZzck Fn Zey Dec. 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1949 m N m m M w we A,

ATI'D RN EYS Dec. 22, 1953 J. FENLEY 2,663,386

AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASE Filed March 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gfdclf fair ale ATTO RN EYE 1953 J. FENLEY 2,663,386

AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASE Filed March 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Jam/ r FenZe L aa mmra.

aeeas's speeds with relation to the character of the formation.

In this diagram the installation of the equipment includes a prime mover or tension actuated hydraulic compressor indicated as a whole by the numeral 4 attached to the cable, and which is connected by hose to a weight or stress indicator 6, and the operation of the indicator, through h electrical power circuits and appliances, electro-magnetically controls a governor or pneumatic valve mechanism I. The pneumatic governor receives a supply of com pressed air from a reservoir 8 through a hose 9 under control of a hand valve I0, and the governor is connected by air hose I I and I2 to a pneumatic brake-motor I3 that turns the pinion 3 and rock shaft 2 to apply and release the braking mechanism of the cable drum.

The tension actuated hydraulic or fluid pressure servo-motor 4 is frictionally mounted upon the cable C bymeans of a pair of vertically spaced U-bolts I4 and I5 encircling the cable and in frictional contact therewith and the bolts are fastened by nuts I6 to the face plate ll of the compressor 4. The cable under tension of weight by the drill is distended by means of a central horizontal post I8 terminating at its outer free end in a concave saddle I9 against which lies the tension stretch or hump of the cable. This post or bar I 6 is slidably mounted in a bearing bore of the compressor wall, and it'is resiliently held in constant contact with the cable by means of a pair of springs 20, 29 inter posed between an interior presser plate ZI integral with the post and the detachable end plate 22 of the tension portion of the compressor or servo-motor.

The presser plate I8 is fashioned With an integral plunger 23 alined with the post I8, a compression spring 24 is interposed between the presser plate and the end plate, and the plunger, which is slidable in a bearing bore of the end plate is provided at its end with a plunger head 25 that is reciprocably mounted in a fluid pressure chamber formed in a casing 26 bolted to the exterior face of the end plate of the servomotor.

As the weight of the drill mechanism tends to straighten the hump H or tension stretch of the cable it will be apparent that the tension created on the cable will force the plunger 25 through chamber 26 to create fluid pressure through the hose 5 to the weight or stress indicator 6 for actuating the indicator. In Fig. 1 the indicator is equipped with a measuring dial plate 21 and pointer 28, and the operating parts of the indicator are enclosed within a casing 29 mounted upon a horizontal base 30 that is supported in desirable position adjacent the drilling mechamsm.

The hose 5 is coupled to a nipple 3 I 'see FigglS, fixed to the base 30, and the smooth lower end 32 of an upright rack bar 33 is reciprocably mounted in the nipple and the coupling for coaction of the rack bar with a pinion 34 rigidly mounted on the arbor 35 of the pointer 28, the arbor being journaled in bearings of a frame 36 fixed to the base plate 30.

To eliminate the necessity for replacing the entire fluid content of the hose 5 in case of loss' or accidental damage, a floating piston P is confined within the hose below the rackbar 32. A spring 31 is mounted above the rack bar in a tubular guide 38 for resiliently holding down and retracting the rack bar as the rack bar moves 4 in response to the fluctuating pressure of the motive fluid against the piston P and the lower end of the rack bar, to turn th pinion 34 and actuate the pointer or indicator hand 28.

For setting the indicator a circular locating rim 39 is employed having an external gear ring 40, and a pinion 4| is journaled with its shaft 42 and hand knob 43 in the lower portion of the fixed frame 36, to actuate or adjust the indicator. A spring 44 resiliently holds the drive pinion 4| in position, and a locking detent 45 retains the indicator in desired adjusted position.

In addition to its customary function of measuring and indicating the weight or stress of the cable, the assembly of the pointer 28 forms part of a circuit maker that co-acts with a differential relay switch in the equipment of the electrical governor and valve mechanism I for controlling the brake motor I 3.

The circuit maker 46 as a whole is rigidly mounted on the exterior periphery of the adjustable rim 39 of the indicator, with a pair of terminal contacts 41 and 48 initially spaced at opposite sides of the free end of the pointer 28, to form stationary contacts for the movable contact member or pointer 28. These stationary contacts or terminals are mounted on the insulated base 46 in an adjustable bracket 49, and a retracting screw 56 with its hand knob 5| is connected by dog 52 to the bracket for adjusting the contacts 41 and 48 with relation to the movable contact member or pointer 28.

in Fig. 1 the two stationary contacts provide terminals for wires or conductors 53 and 54 of the switch-control circuits, and wire 55 attached to the pointer assembly, with its battery 56 and cut out hand switch 51, completes the two circuits for a differential relay switch that controls the electrical governor 1. In Figs. 21, 22, and 23 the differential relay switch includes a resilient blade or armature 58 mounted upon an insulating base 59 between the two opposed electro-magnets 6i] and 6|, and the armature is included in a main circuit 62 having a source of energy 63, and the usual cut out switch 64.

The armature 58 is located between two stationary terminals or contacts 65 and 66 of the governor operating circuits 6'! and 68, andthes'e circuits are completed back to the source of energy by conductor 69.

The operating circuit 68 includes a pair of electro-magnets or solenoids I9, 10, that are in-' strumental in actuating the pneumatic governor and operating thebrake motor and lever to release the brake of the cable-drum; and the circuit 61 includes another set of solenoids H, II that are instrumental in activating the pneumatic governor and thus operating the brake motor and lever mechanism for restoring the released brake to normal operating position.

In the detail views Figs. 6 through.10, the pneumatic governor indicated as a whole by the numeral 1 includes a valve casing 12 having a. hollow head I3 forming separate air chambers for intake and exhaust of air, and the casing is equipped with a valve seat M in the intake chamber which communicates by pipe 9' with the compressed air reservoir 8 and a power or pressure pipe II that supplies air under pressure to the pneumatic motor for the brake mechanism.

The valve casing is also provided with a valve seat I5 opening from the return pipe I2 of the pneumatic motor through an exhaust air chamapec sec fiber the head 'to an -=exhaust pipe 16 from the valve casing.

intake valve 11, which is resiliently held closed in its seat rby spring "18 "coiled about its stem 19, may 'be opened shown in Fig. '10 to permit flow of air under pressure through pipe i l to actuate the brake motor for releasing the 'brake orthe cabledrum.

exhaust valve 80"-i-s resiliently held closed inits s-eat-by spr'ing 81 coiled about' its stem-tfl, and this'valve may be lifted or 'openedto permit exhaust of the motive fluid 'from the pneumatic motor "through pipe F2, thence throughthe valve casing to and through the -'exhaust pipe 16.

Valve -17 is opened-and lifted from its seat by means of a-cam"-83--'carried loy a rec'ipipcating cam rod 81, and *the exhaust valve is uplifted and opened by means of 'an oppositely arranged and acting cam t-s-on-a parallel cam rod- 86.

"These horizontally disposed twin rods 84 and 88 are reciprocabl mourited in slide bearings 81 of the valve casing Hyand-at one-endthey are rigidly united by a cross head 88 forming an armature for the two horizontally.arrangedsolenoids Ti, 11,; and this cross head or armature is equipped withan upright armature 89 for the two 'ivertically arranged solenoids I0, 10.

Solenoids L aramounted-at 9'0 on the exterior face-bf .one sideaofxthetvalvecasing J2, and the .sipaced horizontal. solenoids 1|, mounted :inza. bracket. or. holder :91 rigid with the base of the avalve casing,.in 'ralinement'with .the cruciform armature .3.B-.89 of the two pairs of solenoids.

the Jdrilling progresses :and the well is deepened weight, load, or stress is accumulated or increased on the suspending cable to a point where the hydraulic compressor is activated for turning the pointer or movable contact of the indicator clockwise to engage the stationary contact 48.

The circuit maker thus closes the switch circuit 54 and the differential relay switch 58 completes the operating circuit 58 for energizing the solenoids 10, 1B; the solenoids draw the twin cam rods to position where the cam 83 by contact with stem 19 lifts valve 11 from its seat, while valve 15 remains closed, as in Fig. 10. Under these conditions air under pressure from pipe 9 flows through pipe H to the brake motor I3 which serves to lift the brake operating or release arm I to release the brake from the cable drum, thus relieving the excess load-stress from the cable.

After the strain on the cable is thus released, the pressor plate of the hydraulic compressor is projected by springs 20, pressure under rack bar 32 is released, and this bar is depressed by its spring 31 for imparting a swinging movement, counterclockwise, to the pointer or movable contact of the circuit closer. This movement opens the switch circuit 54, and closes the switch circuit 53 to swing the difierential switch or relay 58 to close operating circuit 61 and energize the solenoids H, H. The energized solenoids draw the twin cam rods to position for opening valve 80, and permitting closure by spring 18 of the valve 11- to cut oif the supply of compressed air to the pneumatic brake release motor. The opened valve 80 permits exhaust of air pressure from the pneumatic motor l3 through pipe l2 to the exhaust pipe 16, thus allowing the brake lever to fall back into holding position of the brake on the cable drum.

As the well drilling progresses, this cycle of H, are

"6 operation is intermittently repeated, letting off the :drilling mechanism to la predetermined suspended weight, for automatically maintamingthe drilling mechanism in precise condition *for efii-cient well drilling.

The pneumatic brake release-motor f? maybe of usual type and it includes a Ye-connection :84

for the'pressure'pipeorhose ll andthefexhalrs't pipe. or hose "r2, the: cylinder or'the:n1o'tor,'and a reciprocating piston 85 within the cylinder. The pistonis connected by its red '86 toa slide 181 having a rack 88 that engages the pinion l of the brake release lever I, "for performing-the functions heretofore described.

Having thus fully described my invention,=what -I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic brake release "for awelldrilling rig including asuspendingcablepa brake contactfor the circuitmaker, ofajswitch-control circuit including said movable contact and circuit maker, an operating electric circuit for the operating means of the governor, and a switch for connecting the switch circuit and the operating circuit.

2. In an automatic brake release for a welldrilling rig including a suspending cable, a brake release mechanism, a tension activated hydraulic compressor mounted on and responsive to pressure from the cable, a pneumatic brake motor for the brake release mechanism, a pneumatic governor for the motor, an intake and an exhaust valve for the governor, a pair of cam-rods and coacting means for opening and closing the re spective valves, an electric operating circuit and electro-magnetic means therein for reciprocating said cam-rods and a switch circuit for the operating circuit, the combination with a circuit maker for the switch circuit, a weight-indicator having a conduit connection with said compressor whereby said weight-indicator is activated by the compressor and a movable member for the weight indicator forming a movable contact for the circuit maker, and a relay switch mechanism for connecting the switch circuit and the operating circuit for the governor.

3. In an automatic brake release for welldrilling rigs including a suspending cable, a pneumatic brake motor for operating the brake release, a governor for the motor, an intake and an exhaust valve for the governor, a pair of camrods and coacting means for opening and closing the respective valves, an electric operating circuit and electro-magnetic means for reciprocating said cam-rods, the combination with a hydraulic compressor having a pressure plate which is mounted on and responsive to pressure from the cable, and a weight-indicator activated by the compressor, of a switch control circuit and a relay switch for connecting this circuit with the operating circuit, a circuit maker for the switch circuit, and a movable pointer for the indicator forming themova'ble contact member of the circuit maker.

4. In an automatic brake release mechanism for a well-drilling rig including a suspending cable, a brake release mechanism, a pneumatic brake motor for the release mechanism, and means including an electrical switch circuit instrumental in operating the motor, the combination with a tension activated hydraulic compressionhaving a pressure plate mounted on and responsive to pressure from the cable, of a governor for the motor, an intake and exhaust valve in said governor, a pair, of cam-rods and coacting means for opening and closing the respective valves, electro-magnetic means for reciprocating said cam-rods, a weight-indicator having a conduit connection with said compressor whereby said weight-indicator is activated by the compressor and a movable pointer for the indicator forming a movable electrical contact, a fixed contact in the switch circuit for co-action with the pointer, and a control switch adapted to be closed in the switch circuit.

5. In an automatic brake release mechanism for a well-drilling rig including a suspending cable, a brake release mechanism, and a pneumatic motor for the release mechanism, the combination with a governor for the motor having an intake and an exhaust valve, of a pair of cam-rods and coacting means for opening and closing the respective valves, electro-magnetic means for reciprocating said cam-rods, a tension actuated hydraulic compressor having a pressure plate mounted on and responsive to pressure from the cable, an electrical switch circuit for operating the compressor, a weight-indicator relay switch connected to the said governor and intermediate means for controlling the electromagnetic means.

6. In an automatic brake release mechanism for a well-drilling rig including a cable, a brake release mechanism, a pneumatic motor for the release mechanism, and a tension actuated hydraulic, compressor having a pressure plate mounted on and responsive to the pressure from the cable, the combination with a governor for the motor having a spring pressed air intake valve and a spring pressed exhaust valve, of a pair of rods having a pair of oppositely arranged cams thereon for co-action with the respective valves, a cross head uniting said rods and forming an electric armature, an operating electric circuit and a solenoid therein for co-acti on with the armature, and intermediate means actuated by the compressor for energizing the solenoid.

JACK FENLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,779,656 Brauer Oct. 28, 1930 1,834,894 Blankenship et a1. Dec. 1, 1931 1,926,119 Smith Sept. 12, 1933 1,954,670 Hawk Apr. 10, 1934 2,080,804 Brantly May 18, 1937 2,117,078 Brauer May 10, 1938 2,298,222 McShane Oct. 6, 1942 2,327,505 Conrad et a1 Aug. 24, 1943 

